Apparatus for filtering liquids or separating solids from liquids



Nov. 26, 1935. M. c. SANTIAGO APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS ORSEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Filed March 22, 1954 Patented Nov. 26,1935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS on SEPARATING SOLIDSFROM LIQUIDS Manoel Cordeiro Santiago, Johannesburg, Transvaal Province,Union of South Africa Application March 22, 1934, Serial No. 716,846 Inthe Union of South Africa August 25, 1933 4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for filtering liquids, or separatingsolids from liquids. It has especial reference to apparatus of the kindcomprisingone or a plurality of filtering compartments or cells in eachof which a filling of closely packed sponges is provided, whichconstitutes the filtering medium.

The present improvements appertain to means for cleaning or removing theseparated and retained solid matter from the sponges or filteringmedium, as and when required.

The object of the invention is to enable the sponge filtering medium tobe cleaned in situ, or without removing the same from the filter cell orcells.

To the attainment of this object, the invention, in one form, asapplied, for example, to a filter including a plurality of filter cellswhich are spaced apart, or so constructed or arranged as to providebetween them chambers, spaces or compartments into which the liquidunder treatment passes in its passage from cell to cell, consists of aconstruction in which one of the end plates or perforated covers of eachcell is movable relative to the other and fixed plate or perforatedcover, so that pressure can be applied through said movable cover to thesponge filtering medium in order to express therefrom separated andretained solid matter. The movable plates or perforated covers may bemounted on a central shaft or rod which extends through the fixed platesor covers and is adapted to have reciprocating motion imparted to it inorder to reciprocate or operate all said movable plates or coverssimultaneously. f

Means may be provided and arranged to cooperate with the central rod orshaft in order to place the sponges under a suitable amount ofcompression during the filtering operation; and also for adjusting thevariable pressure exerted on the sponge filtering medium during thecleaning operation. Indicating means may becombined with the centralshaft or rod for indicating the position of the movable perforatedplates during the normal filtering operation, and also any adjustedpositions of said plates during the cleaning operation.

The apparatus may include means for introducing the cleaning liquid at,various points around the circumference or exterior ofthe filteringcells, and the supply of the cleaning liquid may be controlled so as topermit of it being introduced into eachof the cells independently.

The solid matter which collects in the bottom of the chambers, spaces orcompartments separating the cells may be removed therefrom through acommon discharge pipe by a. suitable arrangement of pipes, connectionsand valves.

Openings, adapted to be opened and closed, will be provided in asuitable position or positions in the chambers, spaces or compartmentsbetween or at the ends of the cells, which openings will form outletsfor the solid matter and associated liquid expressed from the sponges inthe operation of cleaning the same. These out- 5 lets may be connectedto a common discharge or delivery pipe.

In the cleaning operation the cleaning liquid will be caused to flow inthe reverse direction to the normal filtering fiow. For thispurposemeans are provided for introducing such liquid at the normal filtratedelivery end of the filtering apparatus, so that it will pass from cellto cell to the normal inlet end of the filtering apparatus.

The invention will be further explained with the aid of the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a part-sectional elevation of a filter embodying theinvention.

v Fig. 2 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 on line y-y, looking in thedirection of the inlet end. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan viewillustrating the arrangement of the various supply and discharge pipesand their controlling valves, applicable for the form of the inventionshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and l Fig. 4 is a part-sectional elevationillustrating portion of a filter incorporating certain modifi cations.

In the several figures of the drawing the same numerals denote the sameor corresponding parts in so far as they apply.

In the drawing, the apparatus includes a plurality of the filter cellsI, each of which is shown including a cylindrical main portion flangedat both ends, and which are connected together through the medium of theflanges by bolts 2.

The cells I are constructed at the top with openings fitted withdetachable flanged covers 3; 4 being bridge pieces detachably secured bypins 5 to lugs 6 formed on the top of the cells at the sides of theopenings, and 1 fixing screws screwed through the bridge pieces 4 on tothe top. of the covers for securing them in position.

8 represent the fixed perforated end plates of the several cells I,which are fixed in position in recessesat the outlet side of .each cell,between the flanged extremities of the cells, and, in the case of theoutlet end of the filter, between the outer flange of the last cell anda flanged end .part or section 9.

. l 0 are the'movable perforated end plates, which are "slidablyarranged in the other ends of the cylindrical portions of the cells I,and form or provide between them and. their co-operating fixed plates 8the spaces in which the sponge fil- 5 tering medium II is closelypacked. The plates H] are each fashioned with a flanged rim l2 whichfits the cylindrical portion of the cell I and operates as a guide forthe plateln. The plates 8 are constructed with radial webs l3, and the 2V V 'a,o22,524

plates 8 and Ill with central bosses |5, |6, respec 'tively.-

The movable plates II] are so arranged, that they form or providespaces, chambers or compartments I'Ibetween them and the adjacent fixedplates 8 of the next cells I;

The inlet end of the filter is closed by an end plate l8. It is boltedto the outer flange of the last cell I, and forms with thelast.movab1e,filter plate H) at the receivingend the space, cham ber orcompartment |'|-see Fig. 4- -at that end.

7 per shape at l9, and with a flanged outlet 26 to whichis fitted thedischarge pipe 2|. a

The 'filter is shown supportedion pedestals 22, appropriately arrangedalong its length;

Q The end plates l8, Na, are each constructed at the centre with a boss23, 24, respectively, through which passes a rod or shaft 25 on whichare fixed the severalmovable filter plates l0. Around the rodorshaft 25and between the bosses N5. of the several movable filter plates H! arearranged hollow sectional distance pieces or sleeves 26, which maintainthe several movable filter plates [0 in,

correct relative position'when the shaft or rod 25 is reciprocated. Thebosses |5 of the fixed filter plates Bare constructed to form andreceive stufiingboxes and glands 21 for making sliding water-tightjoints between them and the sleeves 26'.

diurn of the rod or shaft 25, is shown includinga crosshead 28to whichone end of the rod or shaft 25 is secured-guides 26 for said crosshead28, a driving shaft 33, an eccentric 3| on said shaft 30, and aneccentric rod 32 attached to the crosshead 28 at 33. On the shaft 30 ismounted a worm wheel 34, driven by a worm 35; 36 being the worm shaftdriven by the motor or prime .mover not shown. 3'! is a pedestal andhousing for carrying the various parts of the driving means. The guides29 for the crosshead 28 are fixed to the end plate or cover IBa of thefilter.

,A coiled spring l3is arranged around that end of'the rod or shaft25which is attached to the crosshead-28, between the latterand a flange onthe adjacent end of the sectional sleeve or tubulardistance piece 26,which spring l3'f0rms a safetycushioningmeans for the sectional sleeves26 and movable filter plates Ill. The boss 24' of J theroutlet end platelea; has a stuffing box and gland 38 Ior'makinga sliding water-tightjoint around the sleeve 26. 1 Thecentral boss 23 of the other end plate|8.is also constructed to Iorm and receive a stuffing box and gland 39to make a sliding water-tightijoint'around thezsleeve 26, which worksthrough it. r

The inlet pipe 43' for the liquid torbeflltered is fitted toan openingin the filter end cover l8 in proximityto the bottom thereof, and theoutlet pipe 44 for the filtrate or filtered liquid is fitted toanropening'in thejfother end plate I841 in proximity to the top of thefilter.

The means for imparting reciprocating motion: to the movable filterplates I0, through the me- In Fig. 3 the arrangement of pipes and valvesis shown. for introducing-the liquidto be filtered through the pipe 43,and also for introducing the cleaning liquid through the pipe 44 tocause said liquid to pass through the filter in the reverse direction tothe normal filtering flow. 46 is a valvein the pipe 43; 41 is a branchpipe connect 7 ing the pipes 43 and 44, 48 a valve in the pipe 41 nearthe pipe 43, and 49, 5B, valves'in the pipe 4T'at opposite. sides of theconnection to pipe 44. 10 5| is another branch pipe from the pipe 43,and I 52 a valve in said pipe 5| near the pipe 43. The

discharge pipes 2| of the several chambers,'compartments or spacesare-connected to the pipe 5| and fitted with valves 53; 54 being a f rthvalve in the pipe 5|. i

Inthe normal filtering operation the valve dli in the inlet pipe 43 willbe opened; and the valves 7 48, 52, in pipes 41, 5|, respectively,willbe closed; the valve in the pipe 41' will be opened and the 20 valve49 in saidpipe closed. allows. the

liquid to be filtered to enter the first space, chamber or compartmentIT, and to passthroughthe various filter cells |-successively into theseveral chambers or compartments l1, from; the; last 25 of which thefiltrate flows out through pipe 44 and valve 50.

To clean the filter by passing a cleaning liquid throughthe severalcells I in the reverse'direction to that ofthe filtering'flowgthe valve746 in 30' pipe 43, and valve 53 in pipe 41 areclosed, and the valves48, 49in pipe:4'| are opened. This diverts the flow of the liquidfrompipe 43 to pipe 44, and thence into the space, chamber orcompartment 'provided in the section 9;, The valves 35 53in the"discharge pipes 2|. can now be opened and the driving :means for theseveral movable filter'plates" l6 set in motion, The reciprocation :ofsaid plates I0 by these means compresses or several cells l and thenallowsit. to expand, so that, aided by the inflowing'reverse stream ofliquid the solid m'atter is expressed or displaced from, saidsponges'll, and; carried through the movable perforatedplates Ill intothe spaces, 5

chambers or compartments l1, and passes out from the'latter throughlthedischarge pipes 2|, valves53, pipe 5| and valve 54to any desired pointpV V V, V The pipes 2| andthe valves 53 permit jany solid 50,

matter which is deposited in the hoppers 1 Sci any one or more ofithe,compartments, chambers or spaces |'|to be withdraw n whilst theprocessof filtering isrproceeding, by opening: any one, or

more, or all of the valves 53 and valve 54 in pipe 55 5|.(Theflvalve52in pipe 5| may beopened, and ,valve.48 in pipe 4'lflclosed. Thiswillallow the pipe 5| to be rfiushedbyrdiverting through the valve 52aportion of the'liquid from'the pipe. 43." V V The.filter as showncomprises three only ofthe "filter cells I", any other number maybeemployed. j withadditional means for introducing cleaning liquid atseveral points through the cylindrical walllof eachcell'. For thispurpose thereisprofvlded'foreach cell an 'arcuate pipe68 whichflficommunicates, through-branch 69'andvalve10,

" with the'pipeA'I; Thepipe 68 is shown provided with five branches l',which extend through holes in; the cylindrical wall of the cell i,around the f Tsponge filtering medium atsubstantially equi--70 distantpoints. 1 12 represent two smaller exten- 'sion pipes, whichat one endcommunicate with 'theends of'thepipe 68 and at theirflother ends exten'dthroughthe wall of the cellandicom- 'municate" with the interior thereofat two owers squeezes the sponge filtering mediumflll of the 40 whichare substantially the same distance apart from each other and from thebranches H as the latter are from each other. This construction ensuresdistribution of the additional cleaning liquid when the supply of thesameis admitted to the cells I through pipe 4'! by closing valve 46 andopening valve 48.

To allow of the pressure exerted by the movable filter plates ID on thesponge filtering medium H being varied, a nut 14 in the form of ahandwheel is provided on the threaded end portion of the rod or shaft25. The nut I4 abuts the flanged outer end of the last sectional sleeve26, so that by screwing it in the one direction it moves the sectionalsleeves 26 and with them the intervening filter plates H1 in onedirection along the shaft or rod 25, against the action of the spring13. This arrangement will admit of the relative positions of the severalmovable filter plates l8 being varied whilst the reciprocation of thesame through the driving means is beingeffected. This enables themovable filter plates H] to be advanced slowly in the direction of thefixed filter plates 8 as the cleaning of the sponge filtering medium IIby the detaching and displacing of the retained solid matter therein bythe reverse flow and/or the flow through pipes 41, 68

and I2, proceeds, consequent upon increase in the resiliency of thesponges due to the cleaning action. The spring 13 will operate to aidthe return of the movable filter plates ID to the normal filteringposition, when the nut 14 is turned to move it in the direction of theouter end of the rod or shaft 25. The pipe 5| in this construction isprovided with valves 75 between the pipes 2|, so as to allow the pipe 5!to be closed for any purpose between the points of connection of thesame with the discharge pipes 2 I In the modified arrangementillustrated in Fig. 4, the handwheel 16 is fixed on the one threadedextremity of the rod or shaft 25 by nuts 11. On this threaded end of therod 25, next to the inner nut H, is screwed a thrust collar 18, and onthe adjacent end of the last sleeve section'ZB is secured a furtherhollow thrust member 19. Between the collar 18 and member 19 a ballbearing 88 is arranged. The other end of the rod or shaft is threadedand screwed into the crosshead 28, as indicated at 8!. 82 is a hollowcasing which is fixed at one end to the end plate or cover l8a, and hasattached to it at its other end the guides 29 for the crosshead 28. Onthe screw-threaded portion of the rod or shaft inside the casing 82there is fixed a thrust collar 83, secured by nut 86, and on the rod orshaft 25 in front of the fixed collar 83 there is loosely mounted athrust member 85. Between the collar 83 and member 85 a ball bearing 86is arranged. Between the thrust member 85 and a shoulder formed around afirst short section 81 of the sectional sleeve 26, a coiled spring 88 isarranged. The short sleeve section 8'! is constructed with a recess,provided with packing, in which fits and is held in position theadjacent end of the sectional sleeve 26 by the spring 88. Theintermediate fixed filter plates 8 are constructed at the centre to formthe stufiing boxes 27, and the bosses l6 of each of the adjacent movablefilter plates [8 are constructed to fit the stuifing boxes 2'! when themovable filter plates ID are in the normal filtering position, in whichposition they are resiliently held by the spring 88. The constructionand arrangement of the parts as above described allows of easyadjustment of the movable filter plates ID in relation to the fixedfilter plates 8, by screwing the rod or shaft 25 into the crosshead 28.

An arrangement is shown in this figure for indicating the positions ofthe movable filter plates [0 relative to the fixed plates 8. Saidarrangement comprises a pointer 89 fixed to the end plate I8, andgraduations 80 on the outer end sleeve section 28. This indicator servesfor indicating the normal filtering position of the 1 movable filterplates ID; the extent of any movement imparted to them whenreciprocating; any adjusted stationary position of said plates l0; andany adjusted position whilst being reciprocated and the extent of theirreciprocal move-.15

ment.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:---v

1. A filtering apparatus including a plurality of filtering cells withspaces at both sides of each of said cells for receiving and collectingthe separated solid matter, sponge filtering material closely packed inthe cells, means for intermittently compressing the sponge filteringmaterial in all the cells for the purpose of cleaning the same, andmeans for introducing cleaning liquid at a plurality of points aroundthe sponge filtering material of each cell, as set forth.

2. A filtering apparatus including a plurality of filter cells withspaces at both sides of each 30 of said cells for receiving andcollecting the separated solid matter, each cell having a fixedperforated end plate, a movable perforated end plate, and spongefiltering material closely packed in the cell between said end plates, arod upon which '3 all the movable perforated end plates are mounted, sothat they are operated simultaneously through the medium of said rod,means for reciprocating said rod, and means for simultaneously adjustingthe position of all the movable 40 end plates relative to the fixed endplates, as set forth.

3. A filtering apparatus including a plurality of filter cells withspaces at both ends of each of said cells for receiving and collectingthe separated solid matter, each cell having a fixed perforated endplate, a movable perforated endplate, and sponge filtering materialclosely packed in the cell between said end plates, a rod upon which allthe movable perforated end plates are mounted, so that they are operatedsimultaneously through the medium of said rod, means for reciprocatingsaid rod, and means for simultaneously resiliently adjusting theposition of all the movable end plates relative to the fixed end plates,as set forth.

4. A filtering apparatus including a plurality of filter cells withspaces at both sides of each of said cells for receiving and collectingthe separated solid matter, each cell having a fixed perforated endplate, a movable perforated end plate, and sponge filtering materialclosely packed in the cell between said end plates, a rod upon which allthe movable perforated end plates are mounted, so that they are operatedsimultaneously

